This is a discussion on How bad was this? within the online poker forums, in the Cash Game Hand Analysis section; 14/10/2
PokerStars Game #10383154895: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/06/11 - 13:42:13 (ET)
Table 'Apus III' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: DLR77 ($15 in

I'm not sure what to think about villains line Misch. It very well could have been an attempt to steal the (presumed) dead money in the pot at a tight table. Although you didn't say anything about any of the villains I'm going to assume that it is a fairly solid/Taggish type table that is fairly common.

Villain plays the hand like an Ax or diamond draw. I don't think he has two pair or a set. And unless he was playing Kx very strange, I think you have him beat. I think the majority of the time, as played villain is holding a Ten. Possibly AT? Not sure, but, I think I call this after looking at it.

I will say that I would definately let this go given the time that you have to make a decision.

I don't mind cold-calling preflop. Stacks are relatively deep so there's good set-value to be had, and you surely don't mind seeing a rag flop come off either.

The checkraise is awful. You already know that though so I'll leave you alone about it.

The turn check, imo, is fine. Giving a free card is dangerous, but so is the fact that he called your flop checkraise. He has "something" and one of those somethings could be AK.

... but then he doesn't bet. That almost certainly rules out AK. Surely he wouldn't check behind the turn with a hand like that given how drawy the flop is? No, can't be a king. He can at best have a pair/two pair.

Surely he doesn't check behind with a set on the turn. Board drawy.

Hopefully he doesn't check behind with two pair on the turn. Board drawy. Besides, what two pair would he have? KT isn't really in his range. Nor is T9 or any other weird combo like that.

So that leaves a draw, AT, A9, possibly AQ (if he peels the flop loosely with overcards - some people do) and QQ.

AT, A9, QQ and various combodraws are probably the ones most squarely in his range.

Folding the river is not good.

Edit: Checking the river, however, can be good against the right opponent. Imo, people don't induce enough bluffs in no-limit and many NL players can take a page from the limit players' book on that one.

1. Lead the flop for 2/3 pot. If he calls, I'm c/c to get a cheap showdown.
I think folding the river is a mistake.

2. I can see higher pairs than yours playing like this but I think it's very unlikely. Here's why... You've shown a lot of strength by C/R the flop which is why I think he checked the turn. If he had KK or AA I think he re-raises on the flop. If he had AK, I really think he would bet something on the turn. I think his bet on the river is pretty weak and he's trying to buy it -- I don't really see this as a value bet. It's entirely possible that he has JJ here as well. The only thing I'm really concerned about his possibly having on the river is QQ. I can't give him a backdoor flush based on the betting, nor can I give him a set. If he did have a set of 10s, he's a very sneaky bastard.